EDITORIAL: People have right to know where their money goes

Published: Friday, June 14, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, June 13, 2013 at 6:08 p.m.

Most students and parents of students are relieved to hear that the University of Alabama System board of trustees plans to vote on a tuition increase of “only”

2.7 percent this year. That’s considerably less than the almost 7 percent increase last year.

It’s not that any increase is welcome. Tuition has been climbing steadily, piling up year upon year for the past decade while wages have been largely stagnant. The board of trustees has offset losses in its endowment investments and flat or declining state funding on the backs of students and their families.

We have argued previously that the university system cannot continue to increase tuition. To do so will eventually drive the cost of a college education beyond the reach of the Alabama citizens who the state flagship university serves. An education at a public university is the primary way that average people have to improve their lives.

At some point, UA officials must learn to tighten their belts and make do on less. It is what just about everyone has been doing through almost five years of difficult economic times.

It is hard for university system officials to make the case that they are making the wisest use of the taxpayers’ and the tuition payers’ money when the University of Alabama continues to pay former UA President Guy Bailey more than $500,000 annually, apparently for not working. Bailey’s position is ostensibly that of professor, but he is not teaching or conducting research. UA also paid partial salaries to two of Bailey’s aides who followed him here from Texas.

Bailey resigned unexpectedly last year after a brief tenure in office. He said he needed to take care of his wife, who has had cancer. He also said that she could not meet the social obligations expected of the university president’s wife.

Bailey’s resignation raised questions immediately. His wife was ill when he accepted the job, and the job’s requirements should have been clear from the outset.

We certainly have compassion for someone suffering from that dreadful illness and do not wish to be hard-hearted.

But we do not believe that every University of Alabama employee is afforded the opportunity to stay on full salary while tending to sick relatives. Most would consider themselves fortunate to receive an unpaid leave of

absence.

Neither the board of trustees nor UA System Chancellor Robert Witt have offered what we feel like is a full or satisfactory explanation of why Bailey continues to be paid his full salary when it does not appear that the university is obligated to do so. Their failure to explain this has unnecessarily led to ugly rumors that have circulated around town.

People who are asked to pay the bills have a right to ask what they’re paying for. If they are going to be expected to pay more for their education and their children’s education, they are at least due an explanation.

<p>Most students and parents of students are relieved to hear that the University of Alabama System board of trustees plans to vote on a tuition increase of “only” </p><p>2.7 percent this year. That's considerably less than the almost 7 percent increase last year.</p><p>It's not that any increase is welcome. Tuition has been climbing steadily, piling up year upon year for the past decade while wages have been largely stagnant. The board of trustees has offset losses in its endowment investments and flat or declining state funding on the backs of students and their families.</p><p>We have argued previously that the university system cannot continue to increase tuition. To do so will eventually drive the cost of a college education beyond the reach of the Alabama citizens who the state flagship university serves. An education at a public university is the primary way that average people have to improve their lives.</p><p>At some point, UA officials must learn to tighten their belts and make do on less. It is what just about everyone has been doing through almost five years of difficult economic times.</p><p>It is hard for university system officials to make the case that they are making the wisest use of the taxpayers' and the tuition payers' money when the University of Alabama continues to pay former UA President Guy Bailey more than $500,000 annually, apparently for not working. Bailey's position is ostensibly that of professor, but he is not teaching or conducting research. UA also paid partial salaries to two of Bailey's aides who followed him here from Texas. </p><p>Bailey resigned unexpectedly last year after a brief tenure in office. He said he needed to take care of his wife, who has had cancer. He also said that she could not meet the social obligations expected of the university president's wife.</p><p>Bailey's resignation raised questions immediately. His wife was ill when he accepted the job, and the job's requirements should have been clear from the outset.</p><p>We certainly have compassion for someone suffering from that dreadful illness and do not wish to be hard-hearted. </p><p>But we do not believe that every University of Alabama employee is afforded the opportunity to stay on full salary while tending to sick relatives. Most would consider themselves fortunate to receive an unpaid leave of </p><p>absence.</p><p>Neither the board of trustees nor UA System Chancellor Robert Witt have offered what we feel like is a full or satisfactory explanation of why Bailey continues to be paid his full salary when it does not appear that the university is obligated to do so. Their failure to explain this has unnecessarily led to ugly rumors that have circulated around town.</p><p>People who are asked to pay the bills have a right to ask what they're paying for. If they are going to be expected to pay more for their education and their children's education, they are at least due an explanation.</p>